Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research

The Human Cytomegalovirus vGPCR UL33 is Essential for Efficient Lytic Replication in Epithelial Cells

This study shows that deletion of UL33 from HCMV genome reduces lytic replication in epithelial cells by impairing Gq-dependent signaling and gene expression.

Host DNA repair factors empower a mechanism of antiviral nucleoside analog resistance

This study identifies host DNA repair factors that enable antiviral nucleoside analog resistance by facilitating viral DNA synthesis in the presence of ganciclovir.

The human cytomegalovirus chemokine binding protein UL22A is necessary for efficient reactivation from latency in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells.

This paper shows that HCMV's UL22A protein is essential for reactivation from latency in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, with tyrosine residues critical for this process, but RANTES neutralization does not fully restore reactivation.

A Novel Hollow Fiber Infection Model (HFIM) for Antiviral PK/PD studies of CMV infection.

This paper introduces a novel hollow fiber infection model (HFIM) for PK/PD studies of ganciclovir in CMV infection, enabling reliable drug exposure and viral dynamics analysis.

The Host DHX29 RNA Helicase Regulates HCMV Immediate Early Protein Synthesis

This study shows DHX29 is required for efficient translation of HCMV immediate early proteins IE1 and IE2, which are critical for viral replication and reactivation.

HCMV infection depends on EGLN1-mediated mitochondrial activation to increase dNTP pools for viral DNA replication

This study identifies EGLN1 as essential for HCMV infection by mediating mitochondrial activation to increase dNTP pools required for viral DNA replication.

Limited protection against early-life cytomegalovirus infection results from deficiency of cytotoxic CD8T cells

This study shows that deficiency of cytotoxic CD8 T cells in early life leads to limited protection against cytomegalovirus infection.

HCMV promotes viral reactivation through the coordinated regulation of Notch signaling by UL8 and miR-UL36

This study shows HCMV uses UL8 and miR-UL36 to suppress Notch signaling, promoting reactivation in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Virus Entry is a Major Determinant of HCMV Latency in Monocytes

This study shows that reduced viral entry in monocytes leads to HCMV latency, while efficient entry enables productive infection, highlighting entry as a key determinant of latency.

Initiation of human cytomegalovirus secondary envelopment requires the gM/gN glycoprotein complex and involves palmitoylation.

This study identifies the gM/gN glycoprotein complex and palmitoylation as essential for initiating secondary envelopment of HCMV capsids, revealing their role in spatially organizing viral assembly within the cVAC.

Human cytomegalovirus regulates host DNA repair machinery for viral genome integrity

This paper identifies UL138 as a viral protein that modulates host DNA repair pathways to maintain viral genome integrity during replication.

Global transcriptional reprogramming by cytomegalovirus infection suppresses MHC class II antigen presentation while enhancing migration machinery in murine dendritic cells.

This study identifies how cytomegalovirus infection reprograms murine dendritic cells to suppress MHC class II antigen presentation while enhancing migration machinery, with M33 specifically boosting migration-related genes.

Human cytomegalovirus triggered necroptosis is suppressed by sequestration of MLKL in the nucleus of infected monocytes

This paper shows HCMV extends monocyte lifespan by blocking apoptosis and triggering necroptosis, which it suppresses by sequestering MLKL in the nucleus.

Complete cross strain protection against congenital cytomegalovirus infection requires a vaccine encoding key antibody (gB) and T-cell (immediate early 1 protein) viral antigens

This study shows that a combined vaccine encoding trimeric gB and IE1 proteins provides complete cross-strain protection against congenital cytomegalovirus in guinea pigs, surpassing protection from either antigen alone.

Human Cytomegalovirus UL78 is a Nuclear-Localized GPCR Necessary for Efficient Reactivation from Latent Infection in CD34+ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells

This study identifies UL78 as a nuclear-localized GPCR essential for HCMV reactivation from latency in CD34+ HPCs, showing its Gi coupling and interactome involvement in nuclear processes.

Whole Virion Proteomics of HCMV Reveals that gpUL141 is a Virion Component that Regulates Envelope Glycoprotein Composition to Protect Against Humoral Immunity

This paper identifies gpUL141 as a HCMV virion component that modulates envelope glycoprotein trafficking to evade humoral immunity.

Human cytomegalovirus infection coopts chromatin organization to diminish TEAD1 transcription factor activity

This study shows HCMV infection disrupts chromatin organization and reduces TEAD1 activity through multiple mechanisms, linking it to genetic risk loci for eye and ear development.

Human cytomegalovirus-encoded G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), UL78, regulates viral reactivation

This study identifies UL78 as a viral factor that facilitates the switch from latency to reactivation in CMV-infected myeloid cells by modulating cellular signaling.

Human cytomegalovirus promotes de novo PC synthesis during early virus replication

This study shows HCMV increases phosphatidylcholine (PC) levels through de novo synthesis during early replication, independent of late gene expression.

Increased Infectivity of Human Cytomegalovirus Strain TB40/E Conferred by Variants of the Envelope Glycoprotein UL128 and the Regulatory Protein IE2

This study identifies two SNVs in HCMV strain TB40/E that enhance infectivity and syncytium formation in epithelial and macrophage cells by altering UL128 splicing and IE2 function.

Human cytomegalovirus induces neuronal gene expression for viral maturation

This study shows that HCMV uses macroH2A1 to reorganize host cell structures and induce neuronal gene expression, which is critical for viral maturation.

A dual role in virion attachment and entry makes the human cytomegalovirus gHgLgO trimer the central player in virion infectivity

The paper identifies gHgLgO as the central player in HCMV infectivity by showing its role in HSPG binding and infectivity, challenging previous views on gB and gMgN complexes.

Different CMV-specific effector T cell subtypes are associated with age, CMV serostatus, and increased systolic blood pressure

The paper examines the association between CMV-specific effector T cell subtypes, age, CMV serostatus, and systolic blood pressure in an elderly cohort.

A noncanonical glycoprotein H complex enhances cytomegalovirus entry

This study identifies a new HCMV glycoprotein complex that enhances endothelial cell infection and presents it as a potential vaccine and antiviral target.

Replication-Deficient Whole-Virus Vaccines Against Cytomegalovirus Induce Protective Immunity in a Guinea Pig Congenital Infection Model

This study evaluates two replication-deficient whole-virus vaccines against GPCMV in a guinea pig model, showing they are attenuated and provide protective immunity against maternal viremia and congenital infection.

What challenges remain in harmonizing cytomegalovirus viral load quantification across laboratories?

This study evaluates inter-laboratory variability in CMV DNA quantification and finds large discrepancies despite standardized materials, highlighting the need for improved assay calibrators and run controls.

Viral and host network analysis of the human cytomegalovirus transcriptome in latency.

The paper analyzes the transcriptional network of HCMV in latency by comparing gene expression with and without UL135 and UL138, revealing their roles in viral gene regulation and hematopoietic differentiation.

A human cytomegalovirus prefusion-like glycoprotein B subunit vaccine elicits similar humoral immunity to that of postfusion gB in mice

This study compares humoral immunity elicited by prefusion-like and postfusion forms of HCMV gB in mice, finding similar neutralization titers but differences in antibody binding and phagocytosis.

Apparent cooperativity between human CMV virions introduces errors in conventional methods of calculating multiplicity of infection

The paper investigates apparent cooperativity between human CMV virions and shows it affects multiplicity of infection calculations.

Inhibition of MAPK signaling suppresses cytomegalovirus reactivation in CD34+ Kasumi-3 cells

This study shows that inhibiting MAPK signaling suppresses CMV reactivation in CD34+ Kasumi-3 cells, suggesting a therapeutic target for preventing viral reactivation in immunocompromised patients.